Commander Ava Munro - Showdown
Ava Munro
(( ‘Appetite Optional’, Ferenginar ))
Bancroft: ::gesturing toward Ava:: Three fingers of Lagavulin neat for my friend over here, if you please.
It was like music sent from the great koala themselves. Ava nodded, in desperate appreciation, towards Bancroft as the Ferengi scuttled off to collect her drink.
MacKenzie: Doctor, I believe you were going to place another order. Was there something that caught your eye?
Munro: Oh :: takes a breath :: I don't think I can eat another bite. I'll just have a drink. A strong one.
And right then her luck seemed to turn as a glass containing the amber liquid was placed down in front of her. Her senses were pleasantly assaulted by the intense smokiness of the drink, and the heady sweet fruits scent. If this was a Ferengi replication they had made a great effort to mimic the original. She dared ask where they may have gotten it from if it was an original bottle - with the rareness of the Scottish drink.
Bancroft: Cheers, Commander. It’s one of my favorites. I’m sure it’ll help settle your stomach.
She was beginning to like Roy Bancroft, he was a good egg.
MacKenzie: How thoughtful, Doctor.
Ava was raised in the Munro household, beginning with her parents then later with her Aunt that meal time meant conversation time. It was an opportunity to debate or discuss an issue or more importantly find out more about the dinner guests.
Munro: So Doctor Bancroft, where did you learn to fortify your stomach?
Bancroft shrugged slightly.
Bancroft: My mother believed every child should learn two things young: how to make small talk with Admirals, and how to eat whatever’s put in front of you with a smile and a ‘thank you.’
Small talk with admirals, so he was potentially ambitious or had been encouraged to be. Interesting, she hadn't gotten that impression from him but then again he had deftly handled this torturous dinner experience. Perhaps there was more to Bancroft than met the eye.
Bancroft: My family often treated dinner like a training exercise. If you showed weakness, you got seconds.
MacKenzie cocked her head dismissively.
MacKenzie: In my house, an empty plate was a sign you either wanted more, or you fed it to the dog and lied about it…
That also explained a lot about the good captain.
Munro: You come from a Starfleet family right?
The doctor seemed either caught off guard by the question, or bothered that it came mid-sip. He coughed once, then cleared his throat.
Bancroft: ::clearing his throat:: Yes ma’am. My father was in operations – brilliant man, very precise, very… er, structured. And my mother… well, she’s Dr. Margot Bancroft. ::a beat:: She has very… strong… feelings about how Starfleet doctors ought to conduct themselves. ::beat, gentle smile toward MacKenzie:: She and I disagree strongly on some of those.
Having been an operations officer for many years, she recognised that description of his father as any number of superior officers she had encountered over the years. She hasn't ascribed to that leadership style herself but she had learnt to appreciate the desire for standards - which she too wanted to uphold.
MacKenzie: ::nodding:: That's alright, Doctor... I also have strong opinions about how Starfleet doctors should conduct themselves. Still, would you mind sharing some?
Ava found that she was very intrigued about Bancroft's mother and she'd definitely be going to investigate Margot Bancroft later.
Munro: Surely they can't be too controversial?
Bancroft set his fork down and took a careful sip of his drink. There was no choking this time.
Bancroft: Yes ma’am – some. That a doctor ought to have answers before the patient’s questions are even formed? I can respect the philosophy behind that. And that if you aren’t exceptional at what you do, you should get the hell out of Sickbay? Well, hard to argue with that either, when lives hang in the balance.
No room for error then. She surveyed Bancroft a little closer, the subtle changes in his body language and then she thought of the steely determination of which he faced down MacKenzie’s eating challenge. It was all beginning to paint a picture of a man determined to set himself apart from his mother yet seeking her approval? He did become a doctor and he seemed determined to prove himself to MacKenzie…
Of course…
oO mommy issues Oo
He cleared his throat again.
Bancroft: Many of her other opinions, however… ::eyeing MacKenzie meaningfully:: don’t bare repeating in any company, much less present company, and I reject completely.
Munro: :: respectful :: You don't need to share them, doctor :: beat :: Families are never as simple as we'd like them to be.
The Fleet Captain seemed to agree with her, when she raised her hands in resignation. Then the waiter brought over another dish. It had a strong flavour and she could practically feel the spice coming from the hasperat that was placed on the table.
Bancroft: ::blinking rapidly:: I… didn’t order this.
The Ferengi gave a wide, toothy grin.
Ferengi: It comes complements of… ::face scrunching up:: actually, I didn’t get her name… but she claims to be a friend of yours. In any case, the latinum was real, so I didn’t ask any questions. Bon apetit!
Ava made it a habit not to eat unusual food from mysterious strangers but MacKenzie didn't seem to have any reservations at all as she clapped her hands gleefully.
MacKenzie: I don't know if you know this, but I love hasparat. In fact, I often complain it's not spicy enough. Someone must have sent this as a gift. But who could have known we were here?
Munro: Probably a lower decker trying to curry some favour. No doubt they'll drop it into conversation when we do the next shift rotation :: smirks mischievously at Mackenzie :: I'll put them on Delta.
The dreaded delta shift, where Ava liked to put all those that tried to bribe senior staff, especially with a hasperat so spicy it would likely kill a sehlat. It made her want to discover who the mysterious gift giver was even more.
Bancroft: Response
MacKenzie: Shall I dish you some?
Ava was no stranger to spice. Her favourite dish was spiced Nauran vegetables, which were known for their flavour and heat but to pair that with Gagh.
Her stomach turned. And not in a pleasant way.
Thankfully the captain wasn't waiting and she sliced through the wrap hungrily. Setting pinwheels on plates. Without waiting for an invitation, or bothering to look at how the others were receiving her gift of sharing the hasparat, MacKenzie picked up her small pinwheel and took a bite.
Ava cut off a small portion of her own and then decided to wait and see if MacKenzie survived or not.
She'd managed to chew no more than three times when it hit her and her jaw stopped.
Her eyes started to water, and her nose started to run.
Continuing to chew, MacKenzie held her thumb up to one nostril but the assault to her nasal cavity was seemingly far stronger from within than it had been when the dish was presented. She picked up the napkin from her lap and held it to her nose until she swallowed, then proceeded to blow her nose.
Through bloodshot, watery eyes, she offered her companions a smile as she pointed to the plate affirmatively.
MacKenzie: Now that is good hasparat!
Ava looked at the dish before her, and took an inhale the spice began to irritate her nose. She took a small piece and gingerly put it into her mouth. The explosion of flavour and heat was instant. Not too much that she couldn't handle but definitely on the side of uncomfortable.
She sipped the lagavulin and it did very little to stop the intense heat. She then grabbed the water and coughed several times but slowly her mouth numbed to it. She was certain she lost several taste buds in this experiment.
Munro: :: coughs :: Isn't dining supposed to be pleasant?
Bancroft/MacKenzie: Response
The Ferengi waiter placed what she could only describe a pail of milk on the table.
Ferengi: Freshly sourced :: winks at MacKenzie :: on the house.
Ava leaned forward and looked into the milky thick substance.
Munro: No, I'll stick with this :: raised her glass ::
Bancroft/MacKenzie: Response
Ava indicated the rest of her hasperat with just a thin slice missing.
Munro: Captain, feel free to finish this? I'm not putting my mouth or my body through anymore pain :: smiles wickedly :: I am enjoying watching the showdown.
Bancroft/MacKenzie: Response
TAG/TBC!
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2